 |
The headquarters of POSCO International in Songdo, Incheon. |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, November 6 (local time) — South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor is reviewing a potential suspension of operations at a POSCO affiliate plant following a fatal workplace accident earlier this week.
According to government and industry officials, the ministry is considering issuing a work-stoppage order for POSCO DX’s stainless steel annealing and pickling plant in Pohang, where the accident occurred.
The annealing and pickling process involves heat-treating stainless steel sheets and then cleaning their surfaces with acidic solutions, typically containing hydrofluoric acid.
At around 8:50 a.m. on November 5, four POSCO DX workers inhaled gas suspected to contain hydrofluoric acid while inspecting equipment inside the stainless-steel processing facility at POSCO’s Pohang Steelworks.
One worker died at the scene, while the remaining three were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Local fire authorities detected hydrofluoric acid levels of 4 ppm from a separated pipe at the site and conducted decontamination procedures using absorbent materials.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, questioning safety managers and plant officials on potential occupational negligence resulting in death or injury.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
